Tigers' Granderson develops into complete player

AP PhotoDetroit's Curtis Granderson rounds the bases after homering in the eighth inning against Minnesota on Saturday.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Detroit manager Jim Leyland said center fielder Curtis Granderson has blossomed into a "total" hitter capable of moving up from the leadoff spot to an RBI position in the batting order.

Granderson said he still has plenty to work on as a hitter before such a move could be made, adding, "I'm comfortable at the top of the lineup."

Granderson had a double and key two-run homer in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Minnesota Twins, continuing to supply power from the top of the order.

He credits hitting coach Lloyd McClendon with thoroughly discussing pitcher scouting reports, and said trusting those reports is something he is finally doing. But he's also big on going with feel, taking into account whether the pitcher is throwing better or worse than the last time they were faced.

Granderson has an American League-leading 13 triples, 18 homers, 23 doubles, 56 RBIs and a .305 batting average. He has scored 51 runs in the last 48 games, and his 101 total rank third in the league. Granderson became the first Tiger with consecutive 100-run seasons since Tony Phillips in 1992-93.

"Curtis is getting better every day," said McClendon, in his second year as Detroit's hitting coach. "It's not one step forward and two steps back. It's a steady progression.

"This year it's been a matter of us building a rapport. It was a matter of us getting to know each other. And now he knows when to be aggressive and when to be patient. Since the All-Star break he has been grinding out every at-bat, his strikeouts are down and he's one tough out."

He struck out 174 and 141 times the last two seasons, but has only 87 with 20 games to play. And his 61 walks lead the team.

Granderson is quite a catalyst at the top of the batting order, and don't expect Leyland to move him any time soon. Leyland said he wouldn't think of doing that unless Detroit had a true leadoff hitter, another of which he said does not exist on the current roster.

Robertson likely to start, Willis too?
Leyland said he probably will start Nate Robertson on Tuesday. That's Kenny Rogers' normal day, but Leyland is moving him back to a Saturday start in Chicago to allow what he says is a sore left hip some extra time to improve.

Rogers would not confirm the problem, saying he wasn't planning an extra bullpen session with eight days off between starts.

"I always just roll with it," said Rogers, who is 1-7 with an 8.50 ERA since July 28.

Leyland would not commit to more than one start for Robertson, who has pitched three games in relief after coming out of the rotation to rediscover his slider.

And, for the first time, he talked about Dontrelle Willis starting again after spending three months in the minors working on his mechanics and control. He was deciding whether it was better for him to return in relief or with a start, but when asked if Willis would get a start this month, Leyland said, "I would hope so."

Willis and Freddy Garcia will pitch in their second simulated game Monday in Detroit. Garcia pitched five innings in the Tigers' minor league system and is coming back from shoulder surgery.

"I hope to see him pitch," Leyland said. "He could split a game or something."

A mouthful at catcher
Detroit's backup catcher printed his name on the notebook page: Dane Kalahanauokekainalu Akina Akeo Sardinha.

"My dad, Dexter, is a surfer and my first name was for a surfer," said Sardina, a Honolulu native whose offseason home remains in Hawaii, where he also surfs. "My second name is Hawaiian for 'born the day of the high surf.' The next name is my dad's mom's maiden name, followed by my mom's maiden name and then, finally, our last name."

For those of you scoring at home, that is 22 vowels among 36 letters in his full name.